Reviews by slusk:

Got this beer in a variety pack. I usually love Highland brewing's offerings but this one seems to fall short.

Appearance - Golden light coppery appearance that pours a thin white, short lasting head. Even though the head isn't profound, it does have fair amount of lacing.

Aroma - Not what I expected in a typical IPA. My first sniff left me asking, where's the hop forward aroma? I could faintly identify a floral hop, crystal possibly but It seems they neglected the aroma or wort hop additions. I actually got more malty aromas right off the bat.

Taste - Ahh, there are the hops. Not too bitter but it seems to me their hop additions went mostly toward the bittering end. A malty and slightly spicy tone with muted floral hop and a barely perceptible acidic touch that finishes a little dry. If you prefer the bitter without a nice aroma hop balance, this is for you.

Mouthfeel - Nice light to medium body. It's what I would expect with a typical IPA. Nice job there.

Overall - Not one of my favorite IPA's, I probably wouldn't buy this again. it's a little too one dimensional in my opinion. I think a little more towards the aroma side of the hops would make this a better beer. I wouldn't touch the bitterness, I think it's fine.

More User Reviews:

This beer could best be compared to a poor version of Sierra Nevada. Nothing new or exciting here. A truly prosaic and mediocre beer. After a few sips I poured this one out.There are too many decent beers out there so I recommend that you skip this one.

This is probably the best brewery in Nc at least of all the beers I have had down here.Had the aroma of a traditional IPA hoppy,grassy,and this one a little apple essence.Poured nice gold/copper color with nice rocky head that stayed awhile.Taste was of course very hoppy and fruity but pretty well balanced.When in Asheville will get this when at Barleys I wanna try on tap.

Pours a crystalline clear gold with a small wite head. Smells weakly citrusy and a wee bit grassy. Slight yeast twinge too. Tastes nicley sweet and grassy. A scant amount of resinous pop. Really just a slightly over sour IPA. Mouthfeel and drinkablility are ok. This beer doesn't do a lot to seperate itself from the "just another IPA" herd. Could have choosen Harpoon IPA and been just as happy.

A: Nice light gold hue. Minimal head when poured into a pint glass and it faded quickly with decent lacing.

S: Very light fruit/citrus hop with a vigorous swirl. Very nonchalant for the fold flavors that follow.

T: Nice balance at first and then the hops take over with a great floral bitterness that lasts well past the swallow. There's a touch of sweetness if you look for it but the mellow bitterness is really the primary flavor component.

M&D: Deceptive body and weight given its light golden color. The nice finish makes you ready for the next sip.

Overall this is a very good IPA - and it's from my home state to boot! I really liked the floral hoppiness and the nice lingering without overdoing the bitterness. The color and aroma can really throw you - you wouldn't expect this kind of robust flavor coming out like it does. I very much enjoyed this brew.

This is a very light colored IPA, almost lager looking if it wasn't for the slight orange hint. Very white head on top which reduced rather quickly to a thick layer with a bit sticking to the sides.

Light smell overall of some floral hops with a bit of resin and straw and some sweet malts in the background. Not a strong enough aroma to allow me to detect much.

The flavor is well balanced between the hops and malts. Hops present themself as slightly floral with some fleeting resin flavors. A good malt sweetness as well. Nice and light and tasty. Mouthfeel is okay, a bit thin. Drinkability is good though due to the lighter flavor profile and the good balance.

Pours a nice hazy dark golden with a one finger head. Nice retention and sticky lacing. Aroma is very nice blend of malts and citrus hops. Taste is citrus malts and sweet malts without a bad bitterness. Very easy drinking IPA, which is exactly what I like. If I lived in Asheville, this would easily be a go-to beer, and that would be great. Very nice IPA.

First off, thanks AlexJ for this one of many NC brews...
Pours a semi-cloudy golden orange color w/ a full finger of bright white head...lacing is thin but hold nicely for a bit.
Aroma is nothing overwhelming, but pleasant, clean hops hit the nose w/ a somewhat sweet malty background.
The taste is nice...very smooth w/ floral hops dominating the flavor...not overly sweet, but the caramel malt balances it out nicely. Not really any hop bitterness going on in this one until the very last few swigs.
Mouthfeel is average for the style and the carbonation is perfect.
Drinkability is above average, as I could easily enjoy many pints of this brew....my first beer from Highland and I like it. Really glad I got the chance to try this one.

Pours a crystalline clear gold with a small wite head. Smells weakly citrusy and a wee bit grassy. Slight yeast twinge too. Tastes nicley sweet and grassy. A scant amount of resinous pop. Really just a slightly over sweet IPA. Mouthfeel and drinkablility are ok. This beer doesn't do a lot to seperate itself from the "just another IPA" herd.

this IPA isn't very "IPA-ish". its not that hoppy for an IPA but more hoppier than a pale ale. i think it's been described on here as "light IPA" and I'll have to agree with that. it tastes hoppy enough but it's also watery and more carbonated than I'd like. the appearance is pale orange with a good head. I think this IPA makes for a good introduction to IPA for somebody new to IPAs or craft beers. it doesn't taste bad or offensive or anything, I just think this IPA could be a lot better for what it is.

overall it's a good beer, but if you want a solid IPA go for something else. if you are new to IPA and/or craft beer this one will be a great stepping stone.

True to the style, it does not slap you up sideways like American or PNW IPAs. Malty and crisp, it has a light mouthfeel and easy drinking for a hophead. I'd buy it again, and probably will next time I'm in Tennessee.

Looks very similar to their pale ale apricot copper slightly hazed with a billowing bright white head rises above the edge of my pint and has large bubbles floating to the top, so far great retention and lacing is thin and sporadic. Aromatics are muted here much more so than the dry hopped pale ale, some citrus and floral hop nose but not that impressive. Some fruity notes with a touch of alcohol make their presence known as well. Flavor is pretty much grapefruit pith and floral perfume tones an astringent bitterness lacquers the palate from the first sip to the finish a touch of balancing malt sugars provide enough sweetness to make this tolerable but this brew comes off one dimensional same flavor aspect working over and over again. Mouthfeel is oily carbonatin is sturdy and tickles the back of the throat definitely medium bodied some protein filled thickness is definitely welcomed in the texture. Drinkability is so so I'm not a fan of the one dimensional hop bitterness IPA that lacks in hop flavor, I'm a hophead but I like to see balance and harmony in the combonation of malts marrying hops that doesn't go down here.

Pours a hazy orange-golden with a modest amount of white head. Head has moderate retention and good lacing.

Good carbonation. Some nice citrusy hop notes paired with a solid malt background. But ...
While not flawed or imbalanced, this is too much of an "IPA light" in terms of flavor and, a bit, in its lean mouthfeel. For some, this should make it a highly drinkable IPA, at least on a hot day, but I was hoping for something richer and bolder.

Thanks to the P's for picking this up for me while they were on vacation.

12oz. brown bottle poured into a pint.

A: Pours a light apricot, hazy. Decent hea with good retention and some lacing.

S: Light citrus with lots of spices, not just peppery. Light biscuity malts.

T/M: Bitterness is at a decent level and slowly builds throught he finish. Hops and spices form the nose, some floral tastes. Malts have lots of sweetness and only a bit of the biscuity quality. Body is medium with good carbonation.